Ship&#39;s ladder



Man. 6, 1923. 1,447,613 H. H. BRANN ET AL SHIP S LADDER Filed Aug. 50, 192 2 AMERY H BRANN. GTIFGE' H. TENS/900K Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

HARRY H. BRANN AND GEORGE E. TENBROOK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS T0 HAVISIDE COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A COR- PORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

SHIP S LADDER.

Application filed August 30, 1922.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HARRY H. BRANN and GEORGE H. TENBROOK, citizens of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ships Ladders, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to ship ladders and especially to improvements over the structure shown in our Patent No. 1,430,281, dated September 26, 1922.

Ship ladders of the type referred to are usually sectional in construction and flexible to permit the ladders to be rolled or folded into as small a unit as possible for storage on board ships, etc., when not in use. Each section of a ladder of this character consists of two side sections carrying one or more rungs or a step, and the several sections are usually connected by a pair of parallel ropes or cables disposed one on each side. These cables are folded together about the side seotions and lashed or seized between each set of side sections. Two lashed or seized connections are thus formed between each step or section of the ladder and are from certain points of view objectionable. First because the connections are stiffened by the lashing to such an extent as torender folding of the ladder difiicult, and secondly because the lashing is subjected to considerable strain when folded or bent and therefore often gives away.

The structure shown in our patent abovev referred to produced a flexible connection between the ladder sections, and it also eliminated the lashing, this being accomplished" by alternately reeving the ropes from one side to another of the side sections, and by passing the ropes or cables through each other between the side sections. This construction, while desirable, also has certain faults which we have endeavored to overcome by the structure shown in the present application. That is the cables shown in our patent above referred to were only passed through each other once at the point of crossing between the side sections and as such would form a slipping connection which would slip if one of the side sections of the ladder, should happen to break or be otherwise removed. In the structure shown in the present application, this objection has been Serial N0. 585,258.

removed as slipping between the cables where they cross each other is prevented by passing the cables through each other two or more times. This structure furthermore permits the cables to run in parallelism or to be alternately reeved from side to side as shown in our copending application. A detailed description of the present structure will be given by referring to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a front view of the ladder.

F 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Flg. 3 is an enlarged detailed view show- 1H0 a modification of the structure.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates in general a ladder constructed of a series of side sections 2-2, 3--3 and 4l-l, WlllCh are interspaced and connected by means of rungs or step like members 5. The partlcular outline or shape of the side seotions is more or less immaterial, but they are preferably elliptical in shape as shown in side elevation, see Figs. 2 and 3. The opposite edges of the side sections are grooved from end to end, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, see the indicating numeral 6, and a cable 7 is reeved about the side sections to flexibly connect the same as will hereinafter be described. In the present instance two cables are employed, one for each series of side sections and as both cables are reeved in the game manner, a description of one will suf- To accurately describe the method of reeving the cables about the side sections and with relation to each other, it may be stated that the central portion of the cable is first wound about an upper thimble, such as indicated at 9. The two cable ends are then reeved together, first by passing one end of the cable through the other as indicated at l2,'and then the first cable through the other as indicated at 13. Each cable is passed through the other at the points indicated and they are then passed around the respective sides of the first or uppermost ladder section, as shown in Fig. 2. This method of passing the cables alternately through each other is important as the tie or connection between the same becomes tighter and tighter as the pull or load placed thereon is increased.

For the purposes of description it might be stated that two cables are employed, one

indicated at 1 1 and the other indicated at 15. The cable 14: is therefore passed down one side of the uppermost side section, and the cable 15 down the opposite side. The cables are then alternately reeved or passed through each other, as indicated at 16, and 17, that is the cable 15 is first passed through the cable 14, as shown at 16, and the cable is then passed through the cable 15 as indicated at 17. Thus again forming a double lock between the cable sections similar to that shown at 12 and 13. The respective cables are then passed down the sides of the next section and are again alternately reeved through each other as shown at 18 and 19. They are finally passed around the last or lowermost side section and may here be connected in any suitable manner, but preferably by passing them-around a lower thimble 25 and then splicing the ends with relation to each other. A loop 26 is in this manner formed into which the thimble is inserted and the thimble is then secured by lashing the loops together as shown at 27.

In the description so far rendered, it has been stated that a single cable is employed for the purpose of connecting one set of side sections. We however wish it understood that a pair of cables may be employed if de' sired, and if such is the case a splice somewhat similar to that shown at 27 will be formed in each end of the side sections and in that case both the thimbles 9 and 25 will be secured in a similar manner.

By passing the cable sections through each other a slip-proof look, as previously stated, is formed between each ladder section and as this lock increases with the load exerted thereon, it can readily be seen that loosening of the side sections with relation to the cables will not take place even though one or more side sections should be broken away or removed. Further, by passing the cables through each other, as shown at 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 19, it will be seen that the cables 1 1 and 15 will run in parallelism, that is cable 14: will be retained on one side and cable 15 on the other side and that a spacing is formed between the side sections which materially increases the flexibility of the connections between the side sections, thus permitting the ladders to be even more com.- pactly'folded or rolled. If it is desired to increase the spacing between the side sections, it is accomplished by reeving or passing the cables through each other three or more times as indicated in Fig. 3. This increases the spacing between the rungs or ladder sections, and it furthermore increases the lock or connection between the cables.

The method of reeving or passing the cables through each other is also of further importance as it maintains perfect alignment between the side sections, such alignment being secured by passing the cables through themselves at the intersecting or connecting points.

The ladders completed may have lanyards attached to the upper thimbles 9 in any suitable manner and these serve the function of fastening the ladder to the rail orother support when the ladder is swung overboard. The lanyards may be of any suitable length as they only serve the function of fastening or securing the ladder when swung overboard, and as they are attached to the thimbles independently of the connecting cables let and 15, it is obvious that they do not form any part of the present invention, or in other words the method of constructing the ladder. In fact the lanyards may be supplied with the ladders, or they may be applied by the purchaser as desired.

In the present instance a comparatively short ladder, consisting of only three sections, has been shown, but it is obvious that the number of sections employed may be increased or decreased to the length required. Similarly, while the structure as a whole is more or less specifically illustrated, we wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Also, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgement of the manufacturer may dictate or varying uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is p 4 1. Aladder of the character described com prising a plurality of side sections, said side sections being interspaced and connected in pairs by step like members, and a pair of cables disposed on each side of the ladder, said cables embracing the side sections and being connected between the side sections, and said cables being reeved through each other at each of the points of connection.

2. A ladder of the character described comprising spacedsides, each side compris ing spaced sections and a pair of cables, each section having a surounding groove, and rungs connecting the sections ofopposite sides, said cables being passed around the sides of said sections in the respective grooves, and thereby embracing the sections, each cable being reeved through the other cable in the plane of the grooves of the sections to form a lock between the cables disposed between adjacent sections and to insure against displacement of the cables from the grooves.

3. A ladder of the character described comprising spaced sides, each side comprising spaced sections, and a pairpf cables, each section having a surrounding groove and rungs connecting the sections of opposite sides, said cables being passed around the sides of said sections in the respective grooves, and with each cable of each side being reeved one through the other a plurality of times adjacent each section.

4. A ladder of the character described comprising spaced sides, each side comprising spaced sections and a pair of cables, each section having a surrounding groove and rungs connecting the sections of opposite sides, said cables being passed around the sides of said sections in the respective 10 grooves and connected between the sections, thereby embracing the sections, and each cable at each point of connection being passed through the other.

HARRY H. BRANN.

GEORGE H. TENBROOK. 

